Can treating machine



y 1943- H. J. PAYNTER CAN TREATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1940 I? IZVEEOR.

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ATTORNEYS y 1943- 3 H. .1. PAYNTER 2,323,350

CAN TREATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 7 Z 3 a f m (In 1] rm 5/ 4a 47 LT 41 L /a INVENT OR.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 6, 1943 CAN TREATING MACHINE Horace J. Paynter, Union, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 29, 1940, Serlal. No. 354,760

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to can or container treating machines in which the cans are inglalong a conveyor and after receiving the ends 3 the cans are transferred to a table. on the table the cans are pushed against each other toadvance them and to move the foremost can of the line into place in a continuing auxiliary conveyor which carries it through a heat treating and end sealing section of the machine. In such a machine, it has been found that by pushing the cans against each other .while on the transfer table they are slightly compressed and this frequently forces the ends out of place. Hence cans without ends in proper position are often fed into the sealing section of the machine and there cause considerable trouble.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difiiculty by providing a transfer mechanism in which the cans are individually transferred from one conveyor to the other so that pressure on the cans is eliminated and thus the positioned ends remain in place.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision of a can treating machine wherein the cans are individually transferred from one conveyor to another in a single sweeping action by transfer devices which prevent pressure from being applied to the cans so that the loosely positioned end members in the cans will remain in place during such transfer.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of control devices which operate to stop. the machine in the event that the transfer devices fail to remove a can from the conveyor which brings them into position for transferring.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof,

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electric devices used in the apparatus.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate principal parts of the can end assembling machine hereinbefore mentioned, in which rectangular fibre can bodies A (Fig. 1) having loosely crimped-in end members B are transferred by a transfer device C from a. conveyor D to a continuing auxiliary conveyor E as the can bodies are propelled along a straight line path of travel.

The conveyor D includes an endless chain 0 linked U-shaped can carrying cradles II. This chain of cradles takes over a sprocket I! mounted on a cross shaft l3 journalled in bearings ll of a bracket l5 which is secured to a machine main frame IS. The sprocket is preferably intermittently rotated in any suitable manner, such as for example, by connection with a main driving shaft I8 which extends the full length of the machine.

The conveyor E is identical with the conveyor" D and briefly includes a plurality of U-shaped can carrying cradles 2| which are linked together to form an endless chain. This chain takes over a sprocket 22 which is disposed in spaced relation to the sprocket l2 and which is mounted on a cross shaft 23 journaled in bearings 24 of a bracket 25 secured to the machine frame It. This conveyor is driven in an intermittent motion by connection with the main shaft l8 and moves in time with the conveyor D.

The transfer device C which'is located between the conveyor sprockets I2, 22, includes a can runway 3| (see also Fig. 2) which is formed with side guide rails 32 and which extends across the intervening space between the outer ends of the cradles ll, 2| as they pass around their respective sprockets. This runway is supported on a bracket 33 which is bolted to the frame It.

Cans A are propelled along the runway 3| at the proper time, as will be hereinafter explained, by a pair of upright transfer arms 35 which are disposed one on each side of the runway. At their upper ends each arm 35 carries a pusher .head 36 which extends into the path of travel of the cans as they pass along the runway. These pusher heads are adjustably secured to the arms by bolts 31 which extend through slots 38 formed in the heads. At their lower ends the arms 35 are shaft 41. The crank shaft is journaled in abearing 43 formed in a bracket 43 which is bolted to the frame It. The inner end of the crank shaft is formed with a crank H which carries a pin 52 on which a cam roller 53 is mounted. The

cam roller operates in a cam groove 54 (see also Fig. 3) of a lever cam arm 55. p

The lever cam arm 55 is mounted on the pi ot pin 42 adjacent the transfer arms 35 and is keyed in place. In order to have som' adjustment between the cam and the levers, the latter are loose on the pivot pin and are fas.ened to the cam by way of an adjustable connection. This connection includes a stud 5| which is secured in the cam and which extends into a slot 52 cut in a boss 63 on the adjacent arm 35.

The boss 53 carries a pair of oppositely disposed adjusting screws 54 the inner ends of which extend into the slot 52 and engage against opposite sides of the stud 6|. By means (I this construction, the arms 35 are securely tied to the cam and yet relative movement may be had between the cam and the arms LII manipulating the adjusting screws. Thus the arms may be set and locked in a predetermined position relative to the cam.

Hence as the main shaft l3 rotates the bevel gears 45, lo and the crank 5| driven thereby, the cam roller 53 traveling through a circular path of travel, slides up and down withinthe cam groove 54 0f the lever cam 55 and thus rocks the cam. the transfer levers 35 connecting therewith, and the pivot pin 42 in its bearings 43. This rocking motion is efiected in time with the intermittent movement of the conveyors D, E as follows.

The normal position of the transfer arms 35, as at the beginning of a transfer stroke, is at the left as viewed in Fig. 1 with the pusher'heads 36 in the rear of the path of travel of the cans A in the conveyor D. Hence when the conveyor D brings a can A to rest adjacent the runway 3|, the transfer arms 35 immediately move toward the right (Fig. 1) and thus push the positioned can A out of its cradle II in conveyor D, propel it across the runway 3| and insert it into a positioned momentarily stationary empty cradle 2| of the auxiliary conveyor E. This is done in one sweeping movement of the transfer arms and therefore no undue pressure is exerted on the can.

Upon insertion of a can into a cradle 2| at the end of such a transfer stroke, the arms 35 return to their normal position adjacent the conveyor D and remain stationary while the conveyor moves through the next step and thus brings another can into place adjacent the entrance end of the transfer runway 3|. At the same time the conveyor E moves through one step and thus brings an empty cradle 2| into position adjacent the exit end of the transfer runway in readiness to receive the newly positioned can.

During the travel of the cans A in the conveyors and across the transfer runway, they are retained against displacement by a guide rail 55 (Figs. 1 and 2). This guide rail extends along the upper run of theconveyor D, down around the sprocket I! to the transfer rlmway, along the runway to the sprocket 22. upwardly around the sprocket, and thence along the upper run of the conveyor E. Adjacent the transfer runway'the guide rail is bolted to and depends from a cross bar 61 which at its outer ends is supported on upright brackets 53. 89. Bracket 53 is formed as a part of bracket 43, while bracket 33 is bolted tv the main frame It. Adjacent the conveyors the guide rail may be supported in any suitable manner.

Provision is made for stopping the apparatus in case the transfer arms 35 fail to remove a can from a cradle ll of the entrance conveyor D. For this purpose the transfer device is provided with a trip finger ll (Fig. 1) which is mounted on a pivot pin 12 threaded intothe bracket 33. The outer end of the trip finger extends through a slot 13 formed in the bracket *1 just below the transfer runway 3| and thus projects into the path of travel of the cradle ll of conveyor D.

The opposite or inner end of the trip finger H is engaged by the inner end of a switch lever 16 (see also Fig. 2) which is mounted on a pivot stud 11 secured in the bracket 33. A tension spring 13 having one end connected to the switch lever and having its opposite end secured to the bracket 33 keeps the switch lever in engagement with the trip finger and presses the latter against the upper end of the slot 14 to hold the finger and lever stationary. This is the normal positions of the finger and the lever, as shown in Fig. 1

The outer end of the switch lever 16 extends through an opening in the side opposite the slot I4 in the bracket 33 and carries an adjustable setscrew 18. The screw is directly over a switch element or contact member 8| of a normally closed electric detector switch 32 secured to the side of the bracket 33.

Hence when a can A is left in a cradle ll of the conveyor D and is carried down past the transfer runway 3| by movement of the conveyor, it engages against the outer end of the trip finger II and rocks it downwardly. This moves the inner end of the trip lever upwardly against the resistance of the spring 18 and thus shifts the switch lever 16. Shifting of the switch lever brings the setscrew '18 down against the switch element 8| of the detector switch 82 and opens the switch. Opening of this switch stops the operation of the machine as will now be explained. The can may be removed from the conveyor under such conditions and damage to the machine parts is prevented.

Reference should now be had to the wiring diagram in Fig. 4. In this diagram the main source of power for operating the machine constitutes an electric motor 85 which is excited by electric energy supplied from a three phase power line, having main lead wires 36, 81, 88 and a service switch 89. This energy is supplied to the motor through suitable circuits which include a normally open start switch 9| and a normally closed stop switch 92 which together with the detector switch 82 control the starting and stopping of the machine.

The machine starting circuit which includes the start switch 9| also includes the closed stop switch 82 and the detector switch 82. This circuit comprises the main lead wire 86, a connecting wire Hll, the normally open start switch 3|, a wire I02, the normally closed stop switch 32, a. connecting wire I03, closed detector switch 32, a wire I, a relay solenoid I05 and a wire I06 which connects with the main lead wire 31.

When the service switch 89 and the start switch 9| are closed electric energy from the main source of supply flows along this circuit and energizes the solenoid I05.

Energizing of the relay solenoid I closes a three phase motor switch I08 and a holding switch I09 one side of which is connected to the motor or service switch 89 by a wire III. The other side of the holding switch is connected by a wire II2 to the wire I02. Closing of the motor switch connects the motor directl by way of wires H4, H5, H6 to the main lead wires 85, 81, 88. Hence electric energy from the main source of electric supply passes directly into the motor.

The electric energy also passes along wire III, holding switch I09, wire I02, stop switch 92,wire I03, detector 82, wire I04, relay solenoid I05, wire I06, back into the main lead wire 81. This holds the relay solenoid energized even though the start switch 9| is immediately released. The motor thus continues to operate. It is this holding circuit that is broken when the detector switch 82 is opened by failure of a can A to be removed from the conveyor D by the transfer arms 35.

When the holding circuit is broken the relay solenoid becomes deenergized. The motor switch I08 and holding switch I09 thereupon open and the electric energy is thereby cut off from the motor. The motor and the machine thus cease operating. This same circuit may also be manually broken when desired by opening the stop switch 92.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for treating cans having loosely positioned end members applied thereto, the combination of an endless conveyor having a plurality of can receiving pockets therein for carrying the cans in spaced relation along a predetermined path of travel, an auxiliary endless conveyor spaced from and disposed in longitudinal alignment with said first mentioned conveyor and having a plurality of can receiving pockets for successively receiving cans from said first mentioned conveyor, means for intermittently moving said conveyors in unison and in timed relation, a transfer arm pivotally mounted between adjacent ends of said conveyors and operable to transfer individual cans from the pockets of one conveyorto the other conveyor pockets by a single sweeping stroke in one direction when said conveyors are momentarily at rest so that pressure on the cans with resulting dislodgement of the can end members is prevented, means between said conveyors for guiding the cans while being so transferred, a pivotally mounted lever arm having an adjustable connection with said transfer arm for oscillating the latter within predetermined variable limits, and rotary means having a crank connection with said lever arm for oscillating the lever arm to swing said transfer arm in opposite directions between said adjacent conveyor ends in time with the movement of the conveyors, for the purpose described.

2. In a machine for treating cans having loosely positioned end members applied thereto, the combination of an intermittently movable conveyor having pockets for carrying the cans along a predetermined path of travel, an intermittently movable auxiliary conveyor having pockets for receiving cans from said first mentioned conveyor, a transfer arm pivotally mounted between said conveyors and operable to transfer individual cans fromthe pockets of one conveyor to the pockets of the other conveyor in a single sweeping stroke while the conveyors are at rest between movements, a runway extending between said conveyors for guiding the cans while being transferred, a cam plate for actuating said transfer arm, said cam plate being angularly adjustably connected with the arm for bringing it into timed relation with said conveyors, and a continuously .moving cam roller operating in said cam plate for actuating it in time with said conveyors.

3. In a machine for treating cans havin loosely positioned end members applied thereto, the combination of an intermittently movable conveyor having pockets for carrying the cans along a predetermined path of travel, an intermittently movable auxiliary conveyor having pockets for receiving cans from said first mentioned conveyor, a transfer arm pivotally mounted between said conveyors and operable to transfer individual cans from the pockets of one. conveyor to the pockets of the other conveyor in a single sweeping stroke while the conveyors are at rest between movements, a runway extending between said conveyors for guiding the cans while being transferred, means for actuating said transfer arm, a pivotally mounted detector arm extending into the path of a can left on said main conveyor by failure of said transfer arm to remove the can from the conveyor pocket, and a switch actuated by movement of said detector arm when engaged by a non-transferred can on said conveyor for stopping the machine.

HORACE J. PAYNTER. 

